10 years of blogging

 Hello all!

Today is the 10th year of my blog. On January 20, 2014, I decided to try blogging. It was a way to document our family life, our day to day, our boys as they grow. Well, although I am not as dedicated as I used to be, I am still around and, thankfully, so are you. A big thank you to everyone who has ever read these entries and a bigger thank you for all the friends that I have met along the way. 

Happily, I am still outnumbered by boys and wouldn't want it any other way. Love to you all xox

Feeling Thankful....

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving, which always gets me thinking about what I am most thankful for...

I am thankful for my family.

I am thankful for the love in our home.

I am thankful for my friends.

I am thankful for health.

I am thankful that I live in a country where I can raise my boys and not worry about wars that will claim them or that I am unable to keep them safe and healthy.

I am thankful for our neighbourhood where our children can play outside and be kids.

I am thankful for soccer and the wonderful women that I have met over the years.

I am thankful for sunshine and warm air.

I am thankful for the autumn leaves and cosy sweaters.

I am thankful for a job that positively challenges me and colleagues that make the day to day fun.

I am thankful for quiet time while enjoying my morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine.

I am thankful for good food and good travels.

I am thankful for all those who volunteer so that my sons may be active and involved.

I am thankful that people still come by to read my blog even if I have not been so good at tending to it.

Happy Thanksgiving! xox

Happy Easter!

So far, this has been a beautiful weekend! We spent most of the last few days outside, which- after this winter- has been so appreciated. The trees are budding, flowers are slowly coming up, the BBQ has been started up and people are smiling again (well... if they are wearing masks, it looks like they are smiling). 

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter! May the sun be shining down on you! xox

PS: yes, we went for a walk so you get a photo spam ;)

Small gratitudes

Today was sunny and warm. I managed to get a good house clean in and still have time for a walk. The snow started to melt and the ice cream shop opened. We even had coffee outside. Tomorrow is March. These things may be small but worth so much.

Happy week ahead xox

Last hours of 2019

In these last few hours of 2019, I am reminded of all that I am thankful for from this past year: my beautiful boys, my always entertaining husband, the family I knew, the family I am getting to know, my beautiful friends that I see on a regular basis, my beautiful friends that I don't often see but think of regularly, the opportunities that I have been lucky to have taken up and the opportunities that I have been offered but had to decline.

I am also thankful for being able to share my day to day with you all. See you in 2020! 😘❤

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!

I took a few moments today to think about all the things that I am thankful for and felt blessed because of all what came to mind. To add icing on the cake, the sun was warm and leaves were beautiful... Can't ask for more...

May you all have a long list of things that you are thankful for xox

How Canadian ;) I bet this goose is happy that he is not a turkey ;)

Small gratitudes

All winter, I have been physically craving sun and warmth. You know, the kind of warm sun that finally thaws your bones and fills your soul. Well, I finally got it. I took a moment to feel the sun on my face and the green grass under my feet. Trust me, I was thankful. The brightly coloured flowers, my favourite polka dot dress and an awesome cup of coffee didn't hurt the good vibes either ;)

Wishing you all some warm sun and things to be thankful about xox

Small gratitudes... the post sickness/post sabbatical trip version ;)

Andreas is back from Denmark. He brought me lakrids (licorice) chocolate and my favourite interior design magazine. The boys feel better and they all went back to school. I went to work and didn't have to worry about having someone take over my class, rush out early or try to co-ordinate the boys' homework by text message :) I don't have to take the dogs out at 5:15 am to pee (Andreas' job!). On Thursday, it is supposed to go up to 5 degrees C. Sunset today was at almost 6 pm. Canada is in 4th place in the medal count at the Winter Olympics. It is 4 days until payday. March break is coming up soon.

Just the small gratitudes... <3

Happy week to you all xox

Thankful for the small stuff... the cold Monday edition ;)

So far, this winter, we are having the crappiest weather. Yes, I know- I always complain about winter but, this year, I am almost beyond complaining. I cannot count how many days (like most of the holiday) were just so cold that we had people on TV and flashing things on our phones telling us to NOT go out. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to heed their good advice ;) Today is one of those days ;)

In light of this cold Monday, I am thankful for my new and very warm/waterproof boots. Best money I ever spent! I am also thankful for my snow pants... and my hat! AND that I had coffee waiting for me when I got to work :) Sometimes the little things are the REALLY appreciated ones!

Happy Monday to you all! Stay warm... and sane ;) xox

Yes, yes, I know. We have sun... but even the sun seems to think that it is too cold ;)

Being thankful

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to be more thankful so here it goes...

Today, I am thankful that it is not -35C out and the air has stopped hurting my face... especially since I had to walk from the train station to work. Sometimes, the little things are really important!

Happy return to routine! xox

I am also thankful that I did not get hit with falling ice ;)

I am also thankful that I made it on the last train before they cancelled service!

Thankful

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving... For readers who are not aware of it, our Thanksgiving is much earlier than the American one. Maybe because it can be so darn cold that we needed to get our crops in earlier ;) Actually, it is as cold in the US as it is here, so you can tell that I just made the other reason up ;) Maybe we just wanted to be different ;)
Anyway, in honour of our Thanksgiving (see.. we spell "honour" differently here too... again, maybe just to be different? ;) ), I would like to take a quick moment before my family comes over to write about some things that I am thankful for:

1) My wonderful husband... yes, he comes first because- without him- I would not have item #2

2) My 3 beautiful (and bratty) boys

3) My extended family. Although I don't mention them often on the blog, I have wonderful family here, in Sweden, and- more recently "rediscovered"- in Germany.

4) My wonderful friends. I am genuinely blessed because most of them actually "get" me... and, if they don't, they pretend it doesn't matter anyway ;)

5) Lovely autumn weather. I love autumn and it just seems slower this year. Yum!

6) My job... I do love it... even if I get emails from students on Sunday mornings... when it is a holiday... and they expect an answer NOW ;)

7) My house... even though it is small, it is filled with love :)

8) Health... because we often take it for granted... until we don't have it anymore.

9) The ability to turn on... and off... our internet ;)

10) Soccer... because it keeps me sane... even more than wine (which should be on this list too!)

11) Wine... because it also keeps me sane....

12) All of you who share in my day to day xox

Still green.... <3

Cosy!

Look... they are actually playing outside... together.... because I turned off the internet ;)

The other 2 were still playing football so I didn't want to interrupt them for this photo. Oliver humoured me... and he wanted so show off his "party shirt" ;)

Little gratitudes

A few things to be thankful for: Oliver finally losing his other front tooth- the one that made eating difficult.... managing to get to the coffee shop before the rain started to pour down.... being able to make it to work before the rain started again.... having a dry pair of shoes at work to change into.... being able to walk back to the train in sunshine..... and Andreas having a yummy dinner ready when you get home from work (crêpes stuffed with mushrooms and shrimps :)

XOX to you all... I am thankful for you too :)

Welcome December

December... already? Wasn't it just summer? Anyway, this December, I have decided to embrace the month and all that it comes with. I have decided to not complain so much about the snow (well, today, it was a lot of rain but you can get my point). I have decided to limit my end of semester stress. I have decided to do my Christmas shopping early so that I may actually enjoy the pre-holiday time. I have decided to take a few moments and count my blessings. I have decided that I will care less about what the holidays SHOULD be like and enjoy what actually happens. A tall order? Maybe... but I will work on it.

Happy December! xox

Thanksgiving

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving.... which is approximately a month before the American one but we kind of celebrate the same thing, with the same kind of food and same opportunity for family chaos ;) Maybe our harvest season was earlier because of the upcoming crap winter? I will try to find out the reason and get back to you... Anyway, for Thanksgiving, I always like to take a moment to think about all the things that I am thankful for. In honour of the holiday, here are a few:

- I am thankful for my beautiful, healthy boys.
- I am thankful for my best friend/husband.
- I am thankful for my family.
- I am thankful to be blessed with so many awesome friends.
- I am thankful to have a job that I love.
- I am thankful for good dinners with good company.
- I am thankful for a cosy sweater on a cool morning.
- I am thankful for the $10 that I found in my old jeans pocket.
- I am thankful for a crisp apple on a sunny autumn afternoon.
- I am thankful for a great cup of coffee in the morning.
- I am thankful for warm sun on my face.
- I am thankful for a good glass of wine while I enjoy a moment on my front porch at the end of the day.
- I am thankful for the community in which I live.
- I am thankful to live in a country where I do not fear daily that bombs will fall down on my house.
- I am thankful to be able to send my children out to play and not fear about the sniper across the street.
- I am thankful that I can cook good and plentiful food for my family.
- I am thankful that, as a girl, I was encouraged to go to school.
- I am thankful that I can openly disagree with my country's leaders.
- I am thankful for the right to vote.
- I am thankful that my boys will not be pulled from my home to fight in some undeserving war.
- I am thankful that, as a woman, my only limitation is my own imagination.
- I am thankful to tuck my boys in at night.
- I am thankful for moments of peace in the world.
- I am thankful for small gestures of kindness.
- I am thankful for the gift of being able to travel.
- I am thankful for the beautiful people that I have met through this blog!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all xox

Autumn yum

Busy week... but never too busy to enjoy Autumn. Wishing you all some joyful days... before the snow makes everyone crabby ;)

A little bit of Montreal photo spam... ;)

So excited!

We booked our summer holidays! One week in Prince Edward Island with some of the most awesome people that we know. The house will be filled with seven kids (6 boys + one poor girl) so I have reserved these two seats for me and my sister wife.... just imagine.... but with a keg of margarita mix between us ;)

Ahhhhh.......

Life

Last night, I found out that an old friend of mine had passed away. I met her when I lived in Calgary in the early 1990's, during a period of my life where I did a lot of stupid-early-20's stuff. My friend was the type of person who called me out on bad decisions, supported me in the good ones and stood by me no matter what. She was no bullshit, feisty, loyal and tough-loving. I learned a lot from her...
Over the past 15 years or so, we sort of lost touch. I cannot remember how we started communicating again but I am so happy that we did. She was a big part of my life at one time and I was glad to reconnect.
She knew that she was dying but didn't let it on. After the new year, I found out from a good friend of hers that she had terminal cancer and wasn't expected to have much time left. I will always appreciate finding this out because I was able to talk to her on the phone and to write her a letter to tell her how much she meant to me, how much I loved her. It was so important to be able to do this while she was still living and not on a memorial page.

Lesson learned: Life is short.... make the most of it while you can.

Au revoir, my friend.  I know that you will continue to kick ass.... xox